By Fergal Gleeson
Now that spring has sprung there’s no better time to throw yourself into the Rosé craze. Rosé is undergoing a massive revival. The trend started in France a few years ago and the French now consume more Rosé than white wine each year.
From France it spread to the smart set in the Hamptons (now known as Hamptons Gatorade), to trendies in the English speaking world from London, Sydney and Melbourne.
Millennials and Insta fans have embraced it with handles such #roséallday and #brosé (the latter has doubled the target market by popularising it as a drink for men).
Rosé fits perfectly with informal dining, the rise of ethnic cuisine, instant gratification and a less stuffy approach to the enjoyment of wine. It has helped that it is also inexpensive. Australian Rosé is nearly always less than $30.
Rosé now embodies good living, freedom, simplicity. And the most precious quality of all…. youth.
Here are some recommendations from Western Australia:
Deep Woods Harmony Rosé 2017
Deep Woods Estate are Margaret River’s most highly awarded producer of Rosé. Their 2016 Estate Rosé was the top ranked Rosé in Australia in the Halliday Wine Companion 2017. Incredibly their entry level ($15) Harmony Rosé was also a multiple trophy winner at wine shows around the country.
Winemaker Julian Langworthy says “This is the first year we’ve made more Rosé than SSB which shows we are on the true path of making an accessible but grown up style. It shows Deep Woods customers are ready for the drier, mineral style.”
The Harmony 2017 is a 70% Shiraz and 30% Tempranillo mix. The Estate inverts the ratios. “Shiraz provides the exuberance, Tempranillo the more savoury side. The Estate also has a small component of barrel fermented juice which adds complexity and structure.”
Harmony vs Estate? Fun vs sophistication? You decide. This year in a devilishly clever move, Deep Woods Rosé will also be available in magnum size bottles. A magnum of Rosé? Hmm the unwritten chapter in “How to Win Friends & Influence People”…
RRP $15 www.deepwoods.wine
Arimia Grenache Rosé 2017
Arimia will hold the 3rd Annual Whole Lotta Rosé day at Arimia on St Patricks Day 2018 featuring music, oysters, a tapas menu and Rosés from some of Margaret Rivers leading producers.
Not surprising then to find they don’t take any shortcuts with Rosé, Cameron Haskell of Arimia tells me. It’s made from 15 year old Grenache vines that are managed specifically for Rosé.
Provence is the inspiration, so the grapes are picked early and have just 2.5 hours of skin contact as they are seeking a restrained colour.
“Rosé has been a lost world but for countries with a climate like Australia’s and South East Asia’s it really works. There is some really decent stuff being made now in Margaret River. It is really laying waste to the SSB range across the region. Some wines are meant to contemplate,” says Cameron “and some are meant for Tuesday night.”
“Rosé is like pop music. There is good pop music and bad music. We are making good pop music!”
RRP $27 www.arimia.com.au
Fraser Gallop Rosé 2017
Just as there is an almost infinitely diverse range of red and white wine out there, so it is also with Rosé. Fraser Gallop’s is an usual blend of Chenin Blanc, Muscat a Petit Grains and Chardonnay.
While most Rosé wine makers tilt more towards white than red wine in the style they are conjuring, you don’t see a lot of Rosés made with white varietals. It smells of red wine but the refreshing taste and acid from the white grapes come through on tasting.
It’s dry as you could wish for and has a real zing to it. More important than any other observation in this note so far is that it passed the Rosé test easily i.e. the bottle disappeared all too quickly and was greatly missed.
RRP $26 www.frasergallopestate.com.au
This is a modified excerpt from an article, which appeared in the spring edition of Your Margaret River Region Magazine. For more Wine Reviews read and follow www.greatwineblog.com Drink and be merry!
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